My wealthy parents demanded I marry to inherit the family business, so I chose a “country girl” to spite them. But soon, I discovered she was hiding a powerful secret.
I’ll admit it. I’m not proud of how I started all this. I wasn’t looking for love, not even close. I just wanted to get back at my parents.
You see, I’ve always lived the way I wanted, with no strings. Parties, fast cars, expensive vacations. And why not? My family was wealthy, and I knew I’d inherit my father’s business one day.
A serious young man | Source: Pexels
But then my parents sat me down for “the talk.”
“Listen, Alex,” my father said, leaning forward like he was discussing a business deal. “Your mother and I feel it’s time you settle down.”
“Settle down?” I scoffed, leaning back with a smirk. “You mean get married?”
“Precisely,” he said with a nod, not breaking eye contact. “You’re almost 30. If you want the company, we need to see some commitment. That means a wife, a family. You can’t run a business like this alone.”
A serious man talking to his son | Source: Midjourney
My mother chimed in, shaking her head. “Your father worked his entire life for this, Alex. We can’t trust the future of the business to someone who treats life like a party.”
I was fuming. They wanted a marriage, so I’d give them one. If they thought they could push me around, I’d prove them wrong. I’d find someone who’d make them question their own demands.
And that’s when I met Mary.
A country woman | Source: Pexels
Mary wasn’t from the usual places where I met women. I found her volunteering at a quiet charity event. She looked modest, maybe even shy, with a simple dress and her hair tied back. Nothing flashy, no designer clothes, just calm and… real.
When I introduced myself, she just nodded and said, “Nice to meet you, Alex.” She barely looked at me, like she wasn’t impressed at all.
A couple meeting for the first time | Source: Midjourney
“So, uh, where are you from, Mary?” I asked, trying to gauge her story.
“Oh, I’m just from a small town,” she replied with a polite smile. “Nothing fancy.” Her voice was soft, and her eyes seemed guarded.
Perfect. Just perfect.
“So, Mary,” I began, cutting right to the chase. “How do you feel about marriage?”
She raised an eyebrow, looking surprised. “Excuse me?”
“I know it sounds strange,” I said, forcing a confident smile. “But I’m looking for someone to marry. I… have my reasons. But you will need to pass several ‘tests’ first.”
A black and white photo of a serious man | Source: Pexels
Mary looked at me, expression unreadable. Then she laughed, surprising me. “Well, isn’t that funny,” she said, her eyes gleaming with something I couldn’t place. “I was just thinking I could use a little ‘marriage’ myself.”
“Really?” I said, surprised. “So, is it a deal?”
Mary studied me, then shrugged. “Alright, Alex. But you have to promise one thing.”
A young woman talking to a man at a charitable event | Source: Midjourney
“What’s that?”
“No questions about my past, and I’ll keep it simple. Just a girl from a small town, that’s all they need to know. You good with that?”
I grinned, hardly believing my luck. “Perfect.”
When I introduced Mary to my parents, they were horrified. My mother’s eyebrows shot up as she took in Mary’s plain dress and quiet demeanor.
A shocked middle-aged woman | Source: Pexels
“Oh… Mary, is it?” Mom said, trying to mask her disapproval with a tight smile.
Dad’s frown deepened. “Alex, this… this isn’t exactly what we had in mind.”
“Well, you wanted me to settle down,” I replied, unable to hide my grin. “And Mary’s perfect for me. She’s calm, humble, and doesn’t care about all this fancy stuff.”
A smiling relaxed man | Source: Pexels
Mary was pulling it off. Every time she answered politely, every time she acted uncertain around our “society talk,” I knew my parents were dying inside.
But then… something about her stayed a mystery. She was perfect for my plan, yet every so often, I’d catch a look in her eye, something almost… amused.
“Are you sure this is what you want, Alex?” she’d asked me once after dinner with my parents.
A concerned woman talking to a man at a dinner party | Source: Midjourney
“More than ever,” I said, laughing. “They’re horrified, Mary. This is working.”
“Well,” she said, her voice soft, almost too soft. “Glad I could help.”
I was so busy watching my parents’ reactions that I didn’t look too closely at Mary’s. Not yet, anyway.
An arrogant young man at a dinner table | Source: Midjourney
The night of the charity ball finally arrived. My parents had spared no expense: a grand hall glittered with chandeliers, tables lined with white silk cloths, and silverware that could feed a small country.
Mary walked in beside me, her simple dress and quiet elegance making her look out of place among the sequins and high heels around her. Exactly what I’d wanted.
A woman in a simple dress | Source: Pexels
“Just remember,” I whispered, leaning close to her. “Tonight’s the final test.”
She looked up at me, her expression unreadable. “I know the drill.”
As the night went on, I stayed close to her, watching as she spoke softly, smiled politely, and never called attention to herself. My parents threw her a few concerned glances now and then, but I could tell they were hoping she’d just blend into the background.
People at a charity event | Source: Freepik
Then, out of nowhere, the mayor himself approached us, his face breaking into a broad smile.
“Mary! I’m delighted to see you here!” he exclaimed, reaching out to shake her hand.
My parents’ jaws nearly hit the floor. I blinked, trying to make sense of it. The mayor knew Mary?
Mary’s smile was polite, but I noticed her discomfort. “Good to see you too, Mayor,” she replied, a little stiffly.
A woman talking to the Mayor of the city | Source: Midjourney
“You know, everyone’s still talking about that children’s hospital project you funded,” the mayor continued. “Your family’s contributions are still making a difference.”
Mary nodded. “I’m glad to hear that. We just want to help where we can.”
The mayor finally moved on, leaving us in stunned silence. My mother was the first to break it, looking at me with wide eyes. “Alex… what was that about?”
A skeptical woman at an event | Source: Midjourney
Before I could respond, Jack, an old family friend, walked over with an astonished expression. “Mary! It’s been ages since I last saw you. I didn’t know you were back in town.”
Mary forced a small laugh. “I, uh, didn’t exactly announce it. I came back for my… wedding,” she said.
Jack turned to me, his face half-amused, half-incredulous. “Alex, you’re marrying Mary the Charity Princess? Her family’s one of the largest philanthropists in the state!”
An amused man at a charity event | Source: Midjourney
My mouth went dry. Charity Princess. I’d heard the name, of course. Everyone had. But I had never bothered to meet her or even look her up.
The moment we could slip away from my parents’ glares, I pulled Mary aside to a quiet corner. “So… Charity Princess?” I asked, crossing my arms.
She sighed, glancing away. “Yes. My family owns the biggest charity fund. They run in these circles, but I don’t. I’ve been avoiding all this for years.”
An awkward woman talking to a man | Source: Midjourney
I ran a hand through my hair, still trying to wrap my head around it. “Why didn’t you tell me?”
“Because,” she said slowly, “it’s the same reason you didn’t tell me you wanted a ‘fake’ marriage to spite your parents. I have my own reasons, Alex.”
“You knew this was fake all along?” I asked, trying to sound calm, but my voice gave me away.
A shocked man in a suit | Source: Freepik
She took a deep breath. “I got sick of my parents pushing me to marry someone for status. I wanted my own life, without all the expectations. When you came along, I figured I could help you and solve my own problem at the same time.”
“Let me get this straight,” I said, still amazed. “You agreed to this whole thing because you’re trying to escape your family’s expectations, just like I am?”
Mary nodded. “Guess that’s one thing we have in common.”
A young man talking to a woman at an event | Source: Midjourney
I stared at her, realizing for the first time how much I didn’t know about her. This wasn’t some naive “country girl” here to make my parents uncomfortable. She was intelligent, strong, and just as independent as I was. Maybe more.
My original plan suddenly felt childish. While I’d been playing games to annoy my parents, Mary had been quietly navigating a world she didn’t want to be part of, giving up her family’s wealth and influence to stand on her own two feet. She’d agreed to my ridiculous scheme just to win her freedom. I couldn’t help but respect her for that.
One evening, as we were going over some plans for the charity events my mother insisted we attend, I caught myself watching her. She looked up, catching my gaze. “What?”
A couple in love | Source: Midjourney
“I just… I guess I didn’t realize how strong you were,” I admitted, feeling surprisingly nervous. “You put up with all this, and you never once complained. You’ve done more than I would’ve in your position.”
Mary smiled, a little softer than I’d ever seen. “I’m not doing it for them,” she replied. “I’m doing it for me.”
a smiling young woman writing in her journal | Source: Midjourney
And in that moment, I realized my feelings had shifted. What started as a plan to shock my parents had become something else entirely. I respected and admired her, and, yes, I wanted to be with her for real.
“Mary,” I said slowly, “maybe it’s time we told them the truth.”
A couple holding hands | Source: Pexels
She nodded, understanding exactly what I meant. We weren’t just playing a game anymore.
The next day, we asked our parents to sit down with us. As we prepared to reveal everything, I felt a strange calm. I wasn’t worried about what they’d say. I just knew that, for once, I was ready to do things honestly and with Mary by my side.
A happy couple | Source: Pexels
Liked this story? Consider checking out this one: When a wealthy, emotionally distant man offers shelter to Lexi, a homeless woman, he’s drawn to her resilience. Their unlikely bond begins to grow — until the day he walks into his garage unannounced and discovers something disturbing. Who is Lexi really, and what is she hiding?
This work is inspired by real events and people, but it has been fictionalized for creative purposes. Names, characters, and details have been changed to protect privacy and enhance the narrative. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, or actual events is purely coincidental and not intended by the author.
The author and publisher make no claims to the accuracy of events or the portrayal of characters and are not liable for any misinterpretation. This story is provided “as is,” and any opinions expressed are those of the characters and do not reflect the views of the author or publisher.
My Husband Spent Every Weekend in His Garage — I Was Shocked to Find Out Why
My weekends with Andrew had always been our special time until he began vanishing into the garage every Saturday. When I finally uncovered his secret, my world shattered, and the truth behind his mysterious project was a revelation that changed everything.
Andrew and I had always cherished our weekends together. Saturday morning walks, lazy brunches, and movie nights were our rituals. But all that changed over the past year.
Emily finds herself alone every weekend | Source: Pexels
Every weekend, Andrew disappeared into the garage. At first, I thought it was a phase, a hobby he would grow out of, but it became more frequent. He’d lock himself away from dawn to dusk, and I was left alone.
“Andrew, what are you doing in there all the time?” I asked one Saturday morning as he poured his coffee.
“Just working on something,” he replied without looking up.
“What are you working on? Can I help?” I tried to sound casual, but he stiffened.
“No, it’s fine. It’s my project.”
Emily asks about his project, but Andrew brushes her off | Source: Pexels
This secrecy was unlike him. We shared everything, or so I thought. As weeks turned into months, my curiosity turned to frustration. I missed our time together. I missed him. Our once cozy weekends were now filled with silence and distance.
One night, as we were getting ready for bed, I couldn’t hold back anymore. “Andrew, why won’t you tell me what you’re working on?”
He sighed, turning away. “It’s nothing, Emily. Just let it be.”
Andrew’s evasiveness fuels Emily’s suspicions and anxiety | Source: Midjourney
I felt a knot tighten in my stomach. Something was wrong. Andrew’s evasiveness was driving me crazy. He’d leave the house in the morning, come back for meals, and then vanish again. His phone was always on silent, and he seemed distracted even when he was with me.
I started to notice little things. He’d come back with smudges of dirt on his clothes, but the garage itself was spotless when I peeked in. Tools were always in perfect order, not a speck of dust on his workbench. It didn’t add up.
Emily takes the garage key while Andrew sleeps | Source: Midjourney
One Saturday night, while he slept, I crept to his side of the bed. My heart pounded as I reached into the pocket of his jeans, which lay on the floor, and took out the garage key. I felt a pang of guilt but quickly brushed it aside. I needed to know what he was hiding.
The next morning, after he left for the garage, I went into action. I installed a discreet camera in a corner of the garage, hidden behind a stack of boxes. I synced it to my phone and waited. All day, I watched the screen, but nothing unusual happened. Just Andrew, working intently on what looked like a car’s alternator on his workbench.
A hidden camera reveals a mysterious woman entering the garage | Source: Pexels
But, that evening, I checked the feed again. My breath caught in my throat as I saw a tall woman with dark hair enter the garage via the front roller door. She and Andrew talked, laughed, and looked very happy together.
They seemed so comfortable around each other. My heart shattered. He was having an affair, I was sure of it. The realization hit me like a punch to the gut.
I watched them closely, noting every detail. She was beautiful, confident, everything I felt I wasn’t anymore. I couldn’t hear their conversation, but their body language spoke volumes.
Emily sees a beautiful woman with Andrew in the garage | Source: Midjourney
They were close, too close. My mind whirled with questions. Who was she? How long had this been going on? Why didn’t he just tell me?
When Andrew came back inside, I confronted him. “Who is she, Andrew?”
He looked confused. “What are you talking about?”
“The woman in the garage. I saw her.”
His face went pale. “Emily, it’s not what you think.”
“Then tell me what it is! Why are you hiding this from me?”
When Emily confronts him, Andrew’s confusion frustrates her even more | Source: Midjourney
He was silent, looking down at his feet. “I can’t,” he finally said, voice barely above a whisper.
“Why not? After all these years, you owe me an explanation.”
“Emily, please, just trust me.”
“Trust you? You’re asking me to trust you when I know you’re keeping secrets and sneaking around with another woman?”
“She’s not… it’s complicated.”
I couldn’t take it anymore. “I’m done, Andrew. Either you tell me the truth, or I walk out on you.”
Andrew’s refusal to explain leaves Emily determined to uncover the truth | Source: Midjourney
He didn’t say a word, just stood there, looking as lost as I felt. I turned away, feeling a tear slip down my cheek. I couldn’t believe this was happening to us. Our love, our life, crumbling because of secrets and lies.
As I lay in bed that night — I consigned Andrew to the sofa — I knew things would never be the same. I didn’t know what to do next, but I knew I couldn’t keep living in the dark. The truth had to come out, one way or another.
The next morning, I couldn’t hold back. As Andrew was heading to the garage, I blocked his path. “We need to talk,” I demanded.
Emily demands answers before Andrew escapes into the garage again | Source: Midjourney
He looked at me, eyebrows raised. “Emily, not now. I have to — “
“No,” I interrupted, “now. I saw her, Andrew. The woman in the garage. Who is she?”
Andrew stared at me for a moment, then to my surprise, he burst out laughing. Startled, I took a step back. “Why are you laughing? This isn’t funny!”
“Emily, you’ve got it all wrong,” he said, still chuckling. “Follow me.”
To Emily’s shock, Andrew laughs when she confronts him | Source: Midjourney
Reluctantly, I followed him to the garage. My heart pounded as he opened the door and led me inside. There she was, the tall woman with dark hair, bent over the engine of an old, classic Ford Mustang. She looked up and smiled warmly.
“Emily, meet Sarah, a very fine mechanic and an old friend from high school,” Andrew declared theatrically.
My confusion deepened. “What’s going on, Andrew?”
Andrew introduces Sarah, a mechanic and old friend | Source: Midjourney
Andrew sighed, his face softening. “Emily, Sarah, and I have been working on this car here for a charity raffle. It’s to raise funds for veterans, in honor of your dad. We wanted to surprise you and your dad with it as the centerpiece for the event.”
I felt my knees go weak. “A charity raffle?”
“Yes,” Sarah chimed in, wiping her hands on a rag. “Andrew told me how much your dad’s service meant to you. We thought this would be a great way to honor him and help other veterans.”
Andrew explains they are restoring an old Mustang for a veterans’ charity event | Source: Pexels
Tears welled up in my eyes. All my anger and suspicion melted away, replaced by overwhelming relief and pride. “I’m so sorry for doubting you, Andrew. I didn’t know — “
Andrew stepped closer, wrapping his arms around me. “It’s okay, babe. I should have told you, but I wanted it to be a surprise. I never meant to make you feel this way.”
I clung to him, tears streaming down my face. “Thank you. This means so much to me. To us.”
Relief and pride replace Emily’s earlier anger | Source: Pexels
From that day on, I joined Andrew and Sarah in the garage. The project became our shared endeavor. We spent weekends working on the car, the garage filled with the sound of laughter and the smell of grease.
Andrew showed me how to handle the tools, Sarah taught me about engines, and we bonded over stories about my dad and our family.
“Remember how my dad used to take us to those vintage car shows?” I said one Saturday, wiping sweat from my brow. “He always loved these classic Mustangs.”
Emily and Sarah spend weekends bonding | Source: Pexels
Andrew smiled, tightening a bolt. “Yeah, he’d be proud of this one. And of you.”
Our relationship transformed through this process. The weekends became more fulfilling than ever. We rediscovered our bond, our shared purpose giving new depth to our connection. Working together, side by side, we found a new rhythm.
The night before the raffle, we stood in the garage, looking at the finished car. It gleamed under the lights, a symbol of our hard work and renewed connection. “It’s beautiful,” I whispered.
Andrew squeezed my hand. “Just like us. We did this together, Emily. For your dad, for the veterans. For us.”
The restored Mustang symbolizing hard work and renewed connection | Source: Pexels
The raffle was a huge success. My dad’s eyes shone with pride when he saw the car, and the funds we raised made a significant impact for the veterans’ charity. I felt a deep sense of fulfillment, knowing we had done something meaningful together.
Reflecting on the journey from suspicion to understanding, I realized how much we had grown. Sometimes, the things that seem suspicious or worrisome at first can turn out to be the most beautiful surprises.
Andrew’s secret project was not just a hobby but a symbol of his love for our family and a cause dear to our hearts.
The restored Mustang became a symbol of our renewed connection and the beautiful surprises that life can hold. Andrew and I had faced a storm and emerged stronger, our bond unbreakable. And in that garage, we found not just an old car but a new beginning.
The charity raffle is a huge success | Source: Pexels
To anyone out there who feels like their relationship is in trouble, sometimes, all it takes is a little trust and a lot of love to see the truth behind the secrets. And sometimes, those secrets can turn into the most beautiful surprises of all.
If you enjoyed this story, here’s another one for you about a young daughter who accidentally exposed a secret a husband was keeping from his wife.
This work is inspired by real events and people, but it has been fictionalized for creative purposes. Names, characters, and details have been changed to protect privacy and enhance the narrative. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, or actual events is purely coincidental and not intended by the author.
The author and publisher make no claims to the accuracy of events or the portrayal of characters and are not liable for any misinterpretation. This story is provided “as is,” and any opinions expressed are those of the characters and do not reflect the views of the author or publisher.
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